Homeless students 2017 to current in Delaware

Why This Indicator Matters

Family residential instability and homelessness can contribute to poor educational outcomes for children. Compared with their peers, homeless children are more likely to become ill, go hungry, experience educational disruption, be exposed to violence and exhibit delinquent or aggressive behaviors.

Selections

Definitions:
Public School Students Who Are Homeless, Delaware, School Years

Data Source:
Delaware Department of Education

Footnotes:

Delaware adheres to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which guarantees students the right to continue their education at the school they have been attending, even though they might no longer meet local residency requirements. According to the Act, students are considered to be homeless if they are living with or without their parents in a shelter (e.g. temporary family shelter, domestic violence shelter, runaway shelter), transitional housing, hotel or motel, campground, cars, or on the street. Also included are those children and youth temporarily living with relatives or friends (with or without their parents) because they do not have fixed, regular, safe and adequate residence, and children in foster care.

In 2017, the definition of "homeless" changed. Up until 2017, Foster Care and Homeless students were grouped together. In 2017, Foster Care and Homeless were split into separate demographic reporting categories.

Data last updated 04/2019

Why This Indicator Matters

Family residential instability and homelessness can contribute to poor educational outcomes for children. Compared with their peers, homeless children are more likely to become ill, go hungry, experience educational disruption, be exposed to violence and exhibit delinquent or aggressive behaviors.

Selections

Definitions:
Public School Students Who Are Homeless, Delaware, School Years

Data Source:
Delaware Department of Education

Footnotes:

Delaware adheres to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which guarantees students the right to continue their education at the school they have been attending, even though they might no longer meet local residency requirements. According to the Act, students are considered to be homeless if they are living with or without their parents in a shelter (e.g. temporary family shelter, domestic violence shelter, runaway shelter), transitional housing, hotel or motel, campground, cars, or on the street. Also included are those children and youth temporarily living with relatives or friends (with or without their parents) because they do not have fixed, regular, safe and adequate residence, and children in foster care.

In 2017, the definition of "homeless" changed. Up until 2017, Foster Care and Homeless students were grouped together. In 2017, Foster Care and Homeless were split into separate demographic reporting categories.

KIDS COUNT in Delaware is housed in the Center for Community Research and Service at the University of Delaware and led by a board of committed and concerned child and family advocates from the public and private sectors. Our mission is to provide high-quality data about the well-being of children, youth, and families, and advocate for positive changes in policies, priorities, and programs.